Taste of Nation marks 25 years

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation Worcester County celebrates its 25th anniversary April 22 with the phrase, “We're putting our best food forward.”

The fundraiser, dedicated to SOS's campaign No Kid Hungry, to end childhood hunger in America by 2015, will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in The Manor Restaurant & Banquet Facility in West Boylston.

Tickets: $50 per person in advance; $75 at the door. Visit www.strength.org/worcester for more information. You can also purchase tickets at Bay State Savings Bank locations, the Worcester County Food Bank in Shrewsbury and Julio's Liquors in Westboro.

The Worcester County Food Bank and Rachel's Table in Worcester benefit from the local event.

“It's rare that an event would have 25 years of staying power,” said Audrey Kurlan-Marcy of Shrewsbury, coordinator of the local Taste. “This one does. It's 25 years of 'Good Taste.' I can honestly say that feeding people never tasted so good,” she said.

Guests can expect more than fabulous food, wine and spirits at Taste.

“To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are offering guests the chance to win a 2103 Ford Fusion, valued at $25,000, courtesy of Marsh- Kemp Insurance Agency in Worcester and Sunnyside Ford of Holden,” said Kurlan-Marcy. “You must be present to win the car.”

Kurlan-Marcy explained that after purchasing a ticket to Taste, you can make a donation of $25 for one chance to win the car or $100 for five chances. Visit www.strength.org/worcester for more info. A maximum of 1,000 chances will be sold, according to Kurlan-Marcy.

At the event, “Up to 25 names from the chances sold will be pulled at random,” said Kurlan-Marcy. “Once a name is pulled and called, that person will choose a three-digit number to unlock the visible vault holding the keys to the Ford Fusion.”

If the person opens the vault, he or she is the winner of the car. If not, another name will be chosen.

There are no guarantees that someone will win the car, but the more chances you buy, the better your chances are. All the donated money will go to SOS's No Kid Hungry efforts, according to Kurlan-Marcy.

Also, Amici Trattoria and Willy's Steakhouse Grill & Sushi Bar, both in Shrewsbury; Arturo's Ristorante and Julio's Liquors, both in Westboro; Atlas Distributing Inc. and Consolidated Beverages, both in Auburn; the Castle Restaurant in Leicester; Calabria Ristorante and Coldstone Creamery, both in Millbury; Chef Sau Restaurant and Two Chefs Restaurant, both in Spencer; Twisted Fork in Cherry Valley; Crystal Brook Farm in Sterling; Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston; The Manor Restaurant, Gerardo's Italian Bakery and The Mill Restaurant and Lounge, all in West Boylston; Sonoma Restaurant in Princeton; Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center in Southbridge and Wachusett Brewing Company in Westminster. Cabin Fever Whisky, Custom Spirits LLC and Inspired Beverage are other participants.

Julio's Liquors is in charge of the more than 60 wines that will be poured at the event.

A limited number of commemorative-labeled bottles of Wachusett beer will be handed out at the event, courtesy of Atlas Distributors and Wachusett Brewing Company.

You should know that The Castle Restaurant, Good as Gold Coffee, The Sole Proprietor and Struck Catering have been involved in Taste for 25 years.

Also, the Worcester County Food Bank and Rachel's Table have been the local recipients since Share Our Strength began granting funds locally, which is more than 20 years ago.

There definitely is strong support from the community for the local Taste, which each year attracts more and more participants and guests.

The Manor's owners, the Fotiadis family, generously donate the use of their facility, and guests at Taste will be able to see recent renovations made at the restaurant, which include a new sports bar. The business also will be renamed.

Look for the Niche Hospitality Group (The People's Kitchen, Bocado Tapas Wine Bar, Mezcal and The Citizen) in the bar area. Kurlan-Marcy and other volunteers pull out all the stops to make Taste the success it is.

Join the party. It's guaranteed to be the best ever!

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Monday, April 15, Tomasso Trattoria in Southboro will sponsor “Half of Southborough Eats Free!” at the restaurant.

If you live in Southboro, or work for the town, the restaurant invites you to drop in for lunch or dinner and get 50 percent off your meal.

Akamon is one of the restaurants located inside Cheng Du Restaurant at 157 Turnpike, Westboro, owned by Kuo-Rung Tang.

Akamon, which means red door in Japanese, features a kushiyaki grill, sushi and sake bar.

Lin studied under Master Sushi Chef Noriyoshi Watanabe in Japan, moving to the United States with his family in 1997. He has worked in Japanese restaurants in Boston's Chinatown and Brookline and studied with master sushi chefs. He was head chef at Yoki Japanese Restaurant in Medford.

“There's a lot of pressure as a sushi chef,” said Lin. “You need to learn a lot and having a strong foundation of knowledge is very important. You cut each type of fish differently, and certain fish are in-season at different times. Every piece of fish needs to be fresh each day. This is so important to know,” said Lin.

He said he is excited to be working at Akamon, where there is that very personal touch from the moment you walk in the door. “I want to help to enhance and give people the best Japanese dining in this area,” said Lin.

The sushi chef, who is currently working part time at Akamon, will become full-time sushi chef May 1.

Kuo-Rung Tang said, “We're delighted to have Lin as our sushi chef. His superior culinary sushi skills are the perfect complement for Akamon.”

Cheng Du Restaurant, in addition to Akamon, also includes 157 Bin Wine Bar and Lounge.

The chef embraces the season with innovative dishes featuring unique flavors and fresh ingredients. There are lots of gluten-free options.

One of the chef's recommendations for an entrée is the new Honey Chipotle Salmon. The dish combines pan-seared salmon filet over crab, andouille sausage and barley jambalaya with a tomatillo vinaigrette and honey chipotle butter.

The Latin Luau is another of his hot picks. The pineapple BBQ pulled pork on homemade cornbread with cabbage slaw, tomatillo vinaigrette and fried jalapenos can be paired with one of the original drink concoctions from the “Watering Hole” or beer.

Diners will be happy to know that some of the Rhino's most popular items (crab Rangoons, steak stuffed peppers, etc.) are still available

FYI: O'Harra worked at The Flying Rhino before a stint as executive chef in the corporate world. He accepted his present position in 2012.

Owners Paul Barber and wife Melina recently renovated the inside of the restaurant with a new look that's refreshing and artsy. Enjoy outdoor seating, weather permitting.

Tidbits: The Flying Rhino celebrates its 14th anniversary April 17.

The restaurant will be among participants at the 2013-14 Broadway Series Preview Party & Spring WOOphoria beginning at 5 p.m. April 18 at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester. Visit www.thehanovertheatre.org for more info about the event.

O'Harra wears a chef's jacket with the words “Got Tusk” written on the sleeve.

The chef said the words stand for Ivory Tusk, the Rhino's popular chicken cheesesteak sandwich with caramelized onions, American cheese and a dab of mayo on toasted Italian bread.